Fireman dies a hero helping to save 20 residents in flats blaze

A FIREMAN died a hero yesterday, helping to save terrified residents as a blaze ripped through a block of flats.

A FIREMAN died a hero yesterday, helping to save terrified residents as a blaze ripped through a block of flats.

Ewan Williamson, 35, was killed and a colleague injured when a floor collapsed as they worked inside the burning building.

Wearing breathing apparatus, the two men had gone into a ground-floor pub in Edinburgh in the early hours after a fire broke out at closing time.

It is believed the floor gave way underneath them. Ewan plunged into the basement and is thought to have been killed by the fall.

His colleague's breathing gear was knocked off. He was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and was later released.

Last night, Brian Allaway, Chief Fire Officer for Lothian and Borders, said: "This is a tragic day for us.

"Our service is a close-knit community and we're all absolutely devastated by this loss.

"Certainly, the people who were rescued would not have been rescued if Ewan had not been there together with his colleagues."

Ewan was part of a 70-strong team, accompanied by 16 engines, who rushed to The Balmoral bar in the city's Dalry Road around 12.30am yesterday.

He and his colleague tackled the flames in the ground floor pub, while fellow firefighters saved people from the floors above.

More than 20 people, including a baby, had to be rescued by ladder from the tenement block.

Seven homeowners were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary suffering from smoke inhalation and all were released after treatment.

Fire chief Allaway revealed: "Our crews were confronted with a very severe fire and while tackling that fire a breathing apparatus crew of two firefighters were injured by the collapse of an internal floor.

"Tragically, and despite the best efforts of all of his colleagues at the incident, Ewan Williamson lost his life."

He offered condolences to Ewan's girlfriend, mother and two sisters.

Allaway added: "The thoughts of every single member of this service are with Ewan's family."

The fire started shortly after closing time at The Balmoral.

Resident David Lithgow said: "Firefighters started to break down the back door of the pub.

"They used angle grinders to cut off metal grilles on windows and paramedics came through with a stretcher - then they pulled a firefighter out from a back window.

"They weren't treating him and covered him with a blanket, it was obvious it was a serious incident."

Witnesses said publican Brian Haston tried to tackle the blaze himself alongside firefighters.

One neighbour said: "Brian was there trying to help when the fire was going. They seemed to be bashing in the basement windows, which are at street level.

"I don't know if that was after the firefighter fell into the basement or not."